Russia Reveals Details Of New 'Information Warfare' Unit

The Russian Defense Ministry says it has formalised its information-warfare efforts with a dedicated propaganda division.

"Propaganda needs to be clever, smart and efficient,"

said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in reference to the new unit.

Retired Russian Gen. Vladimir Shamanov, who leads the committee on defence affairs in the lower house of parliament, said the unit would "protect the national defence interests and engage in information warfare."

Russia has long been accused of spreading propaganda in the West. 

In December, US spy agencies said Russia had meddled in the US election and that its interference may have been directed President Vladimir Putin himself.

Russia's use of propaganda as an element of so-called "hybrid warfare" proved instrumental during the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the later insurgency in Ukraine.

A NATO spokeswoman told Reuters earlier this month that "NATO has been dealing with a significant increase in Russian propaganda and disinformation since Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014."

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